NBA Fans Don't Realize Jerry Krause Got Scottie Pippen Paid in Sign-and-Trade With Rockets
By Max Smith
Jerry Krause may not be as big of a villain as we initially thought. In the latest excerpt from Krause's unreleased memoir, he describes how he made sure Scottie Pippen got as much money as possible following his departure from the Bulls.
Krause revealed that Pippen's agents asked Krause to do a sign-and-trade with Houston, instead of simply letting him go into free agency. Because he was already a member of the Bulls, he could make $22 million more than if he signed with the Rockets outright.
Scottie Pippen's time with the #Rockets was largely a disaster, lasting one season before he was traded to Portland.
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) May 18, 2020
So how did Pippen land in Houston in the first place?
Former Bulls GM Jerry Krause described the move as a "going-away present."https://t.co/9p2Rndbh7v
Pippen finally got his payday, after being grossly underpaid for his entire tenure in Chicago. The craziest part is, when it was all said and done, Pippen ended up making more money in his NBA career than Michael Jordan himself, by almost $20 million!
Also important to note that Scottie Pippen, after leaving Chicago, made $87 million over the final seven years of his career.
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) May 18, 2020
Pippen ended up banking a total of $109,957,430 in on-court earnings, which is actually $16+ million more than Michael Jordan made in his NBA career https://t.co/8tf5o44HGx
On paper, the Rockets were stacked for the 1999 season, with Pippen joining Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley in Houston. Unfortunately, the move to Houston didn't work out so well. Despite Pippen's solid season; averaging 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.0 steals, the Rockets were bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Lakers. That offseason, he was traded away to the Trail Blazers after sparking a feud with Charles Barkley.
Scottie Pippen giving praise to Jerry Krause #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/83UCulgbeG
— ???? (@8Flavs) May 18, 2020
After everything that transpired, Pippen had Krause to thank for finally getting him paid the money he deserved, which might have been why he had kind words for the former Bulls GM towards the end of the documentary.